Buckler's Craft Fair

The Annual Buckler's Craft Fair is this weekend at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. This popular event is Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 5pm and parking is free. Buy one adult admission for $6.00 and get one free. Kids up to age twelve are only $1.00.

Black Heritage Festival

The 20th annual Black Heritage Festival will be held at Pettis Park, 314 North Duss Street in New Smyrna Beach,  February 4-6th. There will be live music and entertainment, food, arts & crafts, hair weaving and face painting, cane grinding and syrup making, soap making, story telling, school art display and a tour of the Black Heritage Museum. There will be something for everyone!

Free Marriage Workshop

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the University of Central Florida's Marriage and Family Research Institute is offering a free marriage workshop. The workshop will be in held at UCF's main campus on Saturday, Feb. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is for married couples who have at least one child age 0-17 living at home. You can get complete details here.

A few years ago I watched the movie Fireproof and thought perhaps I should have seen it 10 years ago....this marriage workshop is another one of those. Don't wait, it is free and it might change your life!

So You Lost Your Pet...or You Found One

If I lost one of my assorted pets I would be frantic. If you lose your pet it is important to know what to do. First, call your local animal shelter to see if anyone has brought it in or reported finding it. If your pet has a microchip be sure you know the details and have registered it. If you find a pet that is lost you can take it to your local shelter, but if you choose to search for the owner it is very important to report that you have found it to your local shelter!


The beautiful Great Dane above is Jack.

The Little Gym of Port Orange

The Little Gym in Port Orange is a locally owned (Sara lives in NSB) business and actually makes me wish my kids were little again.....(well maybe not). I know many of you have small children and this is a great place for you to hang out and learn. If you want to check it out you are going to have a chance on January 30th from 2-4pm. They are holding an open house that will give you a great opportunity to see what all the buzz is about. Check out their activities, classes, parties and so much more.

The Little Gym is located at 4645 Clyde Morris Blvd Suite 404 in Port Orange. You can reach Sara at 386 304-1401 for more information!

Support your local business!

Oak River 5K Run

The First Annual Oak River 5K Run will take place in Oak Hill on February 20th at 8am in Oak Hill. This run will start and finish at Mary DeWees Park. All proceeds will benefit the Burns Science & Technology Charter School. Regardless of whether you support traditional public school, charter schools or home school, there is no more important resource than our children. Come out and support them!

Run with the Rangers 5k

Saturday, February 5, 2011 will be the 2nd annual Run with the Rangers 5k Run/Walk sponsored by Coronado Beach Elementary School PTA and the Friends of Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. 

This event benefits both the school and the park.  All proceeds from the run/walk will assist in strengthening student and family attended science and green energy programs, arts, physical education and academics at Coronado Beach Elementary and an Environmental Learning Center in the Seashore.  

Please contact Dick Tucker 386.423.7758  or Laura Henning 386.576.7526 for more information, you can also visit the office at Coronado Beach Elementary for a registration form.

Edgewater Farmer's Market

My son had a basketball game this morning so I took the opportunity to hit the Edgewater Farmer's Market. It is located in the parking lot of the Hawk's Park Recreation Building on Turgot. Easier way to find it, act like you are going to the YMCA, it is right there on US1. It is much smaller than the one on Canal Street but for me that makes it easier. It is also open later until 2pm which for me is also a positive. There are three or four produce vendors, one has organic vegetables and spices which I like. Their prices are no higher than the others and much less than Publix. Today there was fresh shrimp and seafood, plants and orchids and even some arts and crafts. I went with twenty dollars and came home with six. I got produce for the week including the ingredients for my very favorite vegetarian chili.

Check out the local farmer's markets and support your local business!

Home Show and Business Expo

The Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Home Show and Business Expo on Saturday, January 22, 2011 on Canal Street. This event will start at 10am and run til 4pm.

This unique street event will bring together local businesses, non-profit organizations and our community!

There will be business showcases, retail sales booths, Educational displays, Entertainment, and area for the kids, lots of food, raffles and a silent auction.

Support your local business!

Around Town-Weekend Events

 
Don't let the rain get you down, great weekend ahead at the beach!

Farmer's Markets on Canal Street and Turgot in Edgewater on Saturday morning. Art & Wine Walk on Flagler Saturday from 10am-5p. Don't forget to support your local students at the NSB Caps Spaghetti Dinner at the High School.

Enjoy the weekend!

Juice & Grandma Moments

I had dinner with my brother last night and I brought him a bag of oranges off my super fantastic orange tree. We were chatting with another friend about oranges, juice and how we get fresh juice....(okay I am getting to the point.)  During the course of this fascinating conversation about oranges, and juicers we touched on the fact that I have a juicer....it is a Hamilton Beach Hand Juicer, Model 379. Here is it:

Yes that is an actual photo, please disregard my dirty stove....how is it possible that a Hamilton Beach Model 379 could still be operational and juicing my oranges like crazy....this little juicer was given to me by my Grandma Reynolds. She died in 1989. This bad boy has moved from New York to Florida to Tennessee to North Carolina and back to Florida. I still remember my Grandma juicing grapefruit she brought us back from her winter trips to Florida using this juicer...in like 1970. So this antique juicer is probably circa 1969 or so, I tried to find the year online tonight and my search turned up nothing.  I am certain by now you are wondering why I am sharing this with you..perhaps you are thinking...has she lost her mind and is about to invite us all over for juice?

No, I am sharing this for no other reason than to remind you (and myself), how a 30 year old juicer can bring back lots of good stuff. Growing up stuff, Grandma stuff, memories we may put away but won't forget. This reminds me that I saw my Grandmother wear pants....oh never. She always wore dresses, we had our Grandma manners and our at home manners, my Mom and Dad took care of her when she got old, she lived up the road from us, we visited her every day. The kids sat at a separate table on holidays. She had a gray and white cat that I found as a kitten and she kept til it was old and died. I would ride my bike to her house to complain about my mean mother and father. My brother and I took turns staying at her house, we mowed her lawn and she had the most gorgeous summer flowers. She was the best, and when her juicer quits working I won't throw it away. My kids will have a Grandma Reynolds moment, I am pretty sure it will involve food, her turkey dinner, her gravy (I suck at gravy), her real homemade Macaroni and Cheese...whatever it is they won't forget it.....ever.

What is your Grandma moment?

NSB Yu-Mi Sushi

I love Sushi and don't get it much in New Smyrna Beach. The good news is there is no reason not to enjoy it anymore. NSB Yu-Mi has opened in the old SoNapa location in the Publix Plaza beach side. My brother and I had dinner there tonight and it was excellent. It looks pretty much the same as it did before, nice quiet atmosphere, kind of dark, very friendly staff. He has eaten there before and finds it to be consistently high quality.

The service was great, the sushi was delicious and the sashimi was fresh and tasty, the prices are most reasonable. You can get more information about specials and hours of operation via their Facebook Page. 

Support your local business!

Monthly Art Walk on Flagler

The monthly Art Walk on Flagler is this Saturday, January 22nd from 10am-6pm. Great art, crafts, food and entertainment at our local galleries and businesses as well as vendors here just for the event.

Support your local business!

Images - A Festival of the Arts

The 35th annual IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts, presented by Atlantic Center for the Arts, will be held in Riverside Park here in New Smyrna Beach on January 29th and 30th.  It will feature 225 talented artists, a delicious festival menu in the food court,  art projects for the kids, and free entertainment all weekend.

There are thousands of pieces of art for purchase, whether you're looking for that special sculpture, painting, photograph, or glass vase, stunning jewelry, or handcrafted table, you will find it here.

You can get the complete schedule on the Images Website.

No school on Monday, January 17th....after enjoying the day with your children come on out to McKenna's Place and support New Smyrna Beach Baseball! 

The great people at McKenna's are again sponsoring a fundraiser to support the baseball program. This program supports baseball for grades 6 and up and encourages not only improving baseball skills but also strength training, endurance, good grades and citizenship.

From 5-9 pm, enjoy dinner with your family and 10% of your check will go to the baseball program. Please tell your server you support Cuda's baseball.

McKenna's is located at 1443 S. Dixie Freeway in New Smyrna Beach.

Support your local business!

NSB Caps Spaghetti Dinner

The 11th Annual Spaghetti Dinner is being held from 12-6pm on January 22nd. This event is held in the cafeteria at the NSB High School, enjoy a spaghetti dinner, entertainment and shopping in the Cuda Corner. All proceeds from this event go directly to students at NSB. Tickets are available now at various businesses throughout the community and can be bought at the door. Take-out is available, the cost is $5.00.


NSB CAPS  is a dedicated group of people from the New Smyrna Beach community and graduates of New Smyrna high school. We are a non-profit, completely volunteer organization. Officially, NSB CAPS, Inc, is a 501 © (3), non-profit organization chartered to provide scholarships to graduating seniors of New Smyrna Beach High School.

The Mayor's Fitness Challenge

Saturday, January 15th kicks off the inaugural Mayors' Fitness Challenge at the NSB City Gym.  

 Mayors, Adam Barringer and Mike Thomas, created this challenge for our community to live a healthier lifestyle. The goal is to encourage, as well as support, all individuals in our communities who want to improve their health & fitness while making lifestyle changes. There are two ways to participate:

  The Mayors’ Health Fair

 The health fair is open to everyone and will consist of a variety of vendors and exhibitors that will educate the community on all aspects of health, wellness, fitness and lifestyle improvements.  There will be free health screenings and educational information available. Drop in anytime between 8am-3pm at 1000 Live Oak Street, New Smyrna Beach.

 The Healthy Lifestyle Contest

This is a  12-week “self-improvement” competition, designed to motivate participants to improve their health and to lose unwanted body fat.  The first assessment will be taken January 15th and the final one the week of April 6th. Registration Forms are on the Challenge website.

NSB Park & Recreation News

NSB Parks & Rec has something for adults too...

The Adult Flag Football meeting will be on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parks & Recreation office located at 1000 Live Oak St. The cost for the season is set for $550 per team. The season will be 10 games with a single elimination tournament. The season is tentatively scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. Games are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday & Thursday evenings at the New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex. The deadline to sign-up is Friday, February 11, 2011.

Parks & Rec is also gauging interest in a winter Adult Dodge Ball League. This sounds like a great way to expend some calories and stress! A meeting will be on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parks & Recreation office. The league will be Co-ed and only players 18 years old & up will be allowed to play. Games will be played at the City Gym or Babe James Community Center.

For any questions of further information please call A.T. Marucci at (386) 424-2175 or email
amarucci@cityofnsb.com.

Youth Baseball and Softball Registration

Registration is going on now for Youth Baseball and Softball. The deadline to register will be Friday, February 4th. NSB Parks and Rec & Southeast Volusia Little League will be combining  this year to form one league. Games will be played in Hawks Park in Edgewater and the NSB Sports Complex in New Smyrna Beach. 

 

Registration fees are $65.00, this includes insurance coverage, equipment, full uniforms and charter fees. Players must provide a birth certificate for proof of age and parents will need proof of address such as a Driver's License or utility bill. 

 

SEVLL is also offering free clinics for all players each Saturday in January at NSB Sports Complex. Boys 7-14 are from 1pm-4pm and Girls Softball is for girls age 5-14 and will be alternating between Edgewater and NSB. The clinic for all girls will be: Saturday, Jan 15th from 1pm-4pm at Hawks Park, Saturday Jan 22 from 1pm-4pm at NSB Sports Complex and Saturday Jan 29 from 1pm-4pm at Hawks Park. Starting January 15th (Jan 15, 22, 29) any player interested in learning how to pitch or catch can come from 12noon to 1pm. 

 

 

Marine Discovery Center~1 Day Camps

The Marine Discovery Center will be holding camps on January 17th and February 21st. The camp is held from 8am-3pm and they do have options for extended care. The cost is $35.00 per campers ages 6-14. Information on registration is available here.

Heart 2 Heart Exercise Challenge

 The 2^nd Annual Heart2Heart Exercise Challenge will be held February 12, 2011 from 8am-12pm at the Coronado Civic Center. The Civic Center is located at 150 South Pine Street in New Smyrna Beach. 

This years events include a 5K run, a 45 minute yoga class, a hula hooping hoop jam/hoop class for children and adults of all ages and much more.   The fee to participate in these events is $25 in advance or $30 the day of the event.  There will also be a live auction with some great items. So have some fun, get some exercise and support our local children! To get more information or to register in advance go to Heart2Heart Children's Charities website!

Heart2Heart Children’s Charities is a charitable organization that raises money to help needy children in the Volusia and Flagler County areas.    The money that they raise is donated to Grassroots Giving, The Children’s Advocacy Center and CUDAS Unhooked.  All three of these worthy organizations are geared toward helping at risk children and foster children in our local area.

Chuckeyta's Cafe Book Club

The first meeting of Chuckeyta’s Café Book Club is coming up! They are located at 411 Flagler Avenue and on January 20, 2011 they will start a monthly book club. They will meet one Thursday a month to read discuss different books. For more information contact the Cafe' at 386-428-2020 or email seaside@gate.net

There will be refreshments available for those attending. The first book is The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Open Hanger Day

This Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th from 10am-3p is Open Hanger Day at Timeless Wings and Wheels in New Smyrna Beach. Come on out to the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport and take a look at the World War II Bombers and Fighter aircraft that is on display. They are located at 333 South Street at the Airport.



http://www.timelesswingsandwheels.com/

Around Town~Weekend Events

 It is never too soon to talk about the weekend!

The Farmers Market on Canal Street will be from 730am-1230pm. The Farmers Market in Edgewater at Hawk's Park will be held from 8am-2pm.

East Coast Cruiser Night is also Saturday on Canal Street from 4pm-8pm.

Arts on Douglas has a truckload of special events in January, starting this weekend. Check out their website for details.

Go Dog Go

The third annual Go Dog Go 5k Run which features a 1/2 Mile Dog Dash and Pet Walk will be held at 8am on January 22nd. The race starts at Norwood's Seafood Restaurant. All proceeds benefit the South East Volusia Humane Society. You can register online here. The cost is $20.00 if you preregister and $25.00 the day of the race. Bring your dog and come out and support our local Humane Society.

Happy New Year!

Here's to a happy and prosperous 2011!